The Inequality of Household Incomes in Australia*

This paper presents income inequality statistics for Australia calculated from the published results of the two official income surveys of 1968-69 and 1973-74. These results suggest firstly that the level of household income inequality in Australia has been previously understated. Secondly, it is noted that there was little, if any, change in inequality over the period. However, when families are classified by number of income earners an unambiguous decline in inequality within these groups occurs. These observations are related to other changes in the economy.